Letters ‘Broke my heart’ to see malnourished, injured dog euthanized

I know this isn’t big news but I still feel I have to share this story in the hope that someone on the Navajo Nation might be able to do something to help.

I was driving up 371 recently, on my way to the Bisti, when I happened to see a small herd of sheep bunched up alongside the road. I had just passed the Chaco River and the scenery was lovely, so I turned my car around to take a photo of the sheep. Only as I was looking through the lens did I notice what I first mistook for a black lamb.

Looking more closely, I saw it was a dog and I thought it was maybe there as a shepherd. Then I realized it was injured.

The puppy approached my car, hobbling on two legs. I had my own dog with me, and some dog treats, so I offered the puppy some so I could examine her injuries and to see if she had any form of identification. No collar or tags. Her front paw was nearly gone, all but a stub of one toe, and her hind leg flopped around, probably broken. She let me pick her up and put her on a dog bed in the back of the car, with no cries or attempts to bite me.

I drove as fast as I could to an animal hospital in Santa Fe, not knowing of any place closer that could help. The vets examined her and x-rayed her legs. She had been shot with buckshot and her hind leg was so shattered that they couldn’t cast or plate it, and what remained of her front paw would have to be amputated. She was severely underweight, too. Yet through all this she was as sweet as could be, and it broke my heart to let them euthanize her. The only comfort I had was knowing that for five hours she had been in a warm, quiet place, and had some food and dog treats and pats.

I understand people not being able to keep or care for a dog but to shoot one in this way and leave her to die of starvation or gangrene or depredation is beyond my understanding. A humane death at the Shiprock shelter would be far better and at least she might have had a chance to be adopted. I would have kept her if she had a chance at a healthy life but two legs are not enough.

Evalyn Bemis
Santa Fe, N.M.

Trying to locate former Trinidad junior college classmate

Ya’at’eeh ! My name is Ronald R. Haberkorn and I am trying to locate Jean Yabeny. She and I went to Trinidad State Junior College back in the good old days of 1965.

It is very important to me getting in touch with her. We were very close friends while going to college.

Jean or anyone who knows where she might be may contact me at 719-598-3698. Reverse charges on my phone if you may. I would greatly appreciate it. Ahe’hee!

Ronald R. Haberkorn
Colorado Springs, Colo.

Change your light bulbs blue to support Colorectal Cancer awareness month

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I am Navajo originally from the Farmington area. I now live in Las Vegas, Nev. I am also a colon cancer survivor and my family has Lynch syndrome. Lynch syndrome is a hereditary condition that predisposes families, like mine, to high-risk cancers such as colon cancer.

Through this experience I have become an advocate for colon cancer and LS. As part of my efforts, I have been working with Clark County here in Las Vegas, to turn the world famous sign to blue in recognition of the awareness month. The light bulbs will be changed to blue for most of the month of March. The ceremony is Friday, March 4, at the sign on “The Strip”.

John Nelson
Las Vegas, Nev.
(Hometown: Farmington, N.M.)

---